Photo: Rick Hansen and Naiomie Hanson-Akavak in Iqaluit

Naiomie Hanson-Akavak, 25, of Iqaluit was honoured for being a “difference maker” by Rick Hansen, the Man in Motion, at a community event held Sept. 25 at Nakasuk School in Iqaluit. Despite living with cerebral palsy for her entire life, Hanson-Akavak graduated from Inuksuk High School in 2004 and went on to complete studies at Nunavut Sivuniksavut and Algonquin College in Ottawa. She has published commentaries and letters in Nunatsiaq News aimed at inspiring others, and now works as a volunteer at the Nunavut Disabilities Council. (PHOTO BY JIM BELL)